Sheraton spending big bucks on global upgrades

The Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers is among the Sheraton Hotels getting upgrades.

By Mark Chesnut

Starwood Preferred Guest members take note: Sheraton Hotels, one of the upscale hotel brands owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, is unveiling some $350 million worth of upgrades at an array of its properties in the coming months.

In the Big Apple, guests are now checking into a revamped Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, where a $160 million facelift has resulted in a refurbished Sheraton Club Lounge and guest rooms.

In Europe, the biggest beneficiary of the infusion of cash — which is the result of Starwood and private owner investment — is the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh, Scotland, which now has refurbished guest rooms, a new restaurant and bar and more than 14,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting space.

In Latin America, the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center, in Chile’s capital, is completing the final phase of its $13.5-million renovation, which will improve the lobby and convention center, as well as the swimming pool, terrace and outdoor restaurant. In April, the Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort, in Rio de Janeiro, began the first phase of its $30 million renovation, which will revamp the guest rooms and also result in a new Link@Sheraton Cafe, as well as a new Shine Spa and “Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core Performance” gym. In addition, the convention facilities at the Sheraton Rio will expand from 22,400 to 27,400 square feet. Later this year, the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel & Towers, in Mexico City, will begin its own renovation program as well.

Across the Pacific, the Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast, in Australia, is wrapping up $20 million worth of upgrades, including a facelift for its public areas and landscaping. The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing, meanwhile, is undergoing a $50 million renovation over the next three years, which will refresh all guest rooms, public spaces and restaurants.

Related resources

• Beijing hotels
• Mexico City hotels
• New York hotels
• Rio de Janeiro hotels

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America. He always thinks he’s going to use the hotel gym.

Tagged: Europe, New York